Plot

During the 1900 Boxer Rebellion, U.S. marine, Maj. Matt Lewis, along with British consul, Sir Arthur Robertson, develop a plan to keep the rebels at bay until an international military relief force can arrive.

Diplomats, soldiers, and other representatives of a dozen nations fend off the siege of the International Compound in Peking during the 1899 to 1901 Boxer Rebellion. The disparate interests unite for survival, despite competing factions, overwhelming odds, delayed relief, and tacit support of the Boxers by Dowager Empress Tzu-Hsi (Dame Flora Robson) and her Generals.—Martin H. Booda <booda@datasync.com>

During the 1899 to 1901 Boxer Rebellion, Peking is an open city with the Chinese, and several European countries vie for control. The Boxers, who oppose Christianity and the western powers, who still exercised complete sovereignty over their compounds and their citizens. The head of the U.S. garrison is Marine Major Matt Lewis (Charlton Heston), an experienced China hand who knows local conditions well. He meets exiled Russian Baroness Natalie Ivanoff (Ava Gardner), with whom he falls in love. The political situation is tension-filled with the Boxers having the tacit approval of Dowager Empress Tzu-Hsi (Dame Flora Robson). When the Boxers attack the foreigners, Major Lewis, working with the senior officer from the British Embassy, Sir Arthur Robertson (David Niven), tries to keep them at bay pending the arrival of a relief force.—garykmcd

During the 1899 to 1901 Boxer Rebellion, U.S. Marine Major Matt Lewis (Charlton Heston), along with British consul Sir Arthur Robertson (David Niven), develop a plan to keep the rebels at bay until an international military relief force can arrive.